Effect of human endometrial secretions on the metabolism of human spermatozoa.
The interaction between human uterine secretions and human spermatozoa was studied. Secretions were obtained by washing the endometrial surfaces of normal uteri removed at surgery and collecting uterine fluid by incubating Millipore chambers in the uteri of volunteers. A microtechnique was devised for conducting metabolic studies with the small volumes (50 microliters) of fluid obtained in the chamber. The uterine secretions obtained by these two methods reduced the formation of CO2 by sperm from labeled glucose without affecting the accumulation of lactic acid. Sperm motility was not affected during a 3-hour incubation period. Uterine washings also reduced the rate of oxygen uptake of treated sperm. The metabolic alteration may have the effect of prolonging the life-span of spermatozoa within the female tract.
D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005947:Glucose